This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Saturday night offers a 10-game slate with a star-studded Pelicans-Warriors matchup among the highlights. There's no shortage of expensive options tugging at your dollars, so let's dive into which ones might best be worth loosening the purse strings for, and what mid-tier and value options can allow you to afford them.
GUARD
Russell Westbrook, OKC at DAL ($20,500): After adopting much more of a facilitator role than usual to start the season, Westbrook has opted to take matters into his own hands in recent games, leading to three straight 60 fantasy-point outings and more than 20 shot attempts in three of his past four contests. Westbrook is averaging 1.55 fantasy points per minute over the latter span and draws a matchup ripe for more of the same Saturday, considering the Mavericks have allowed the third most fantasy points (52.8) to point guards on the season, along with the second most points (26.1), most steals (2.8) and second most three-pointers (2.8) to the position.
Kyle Lowry, TOR at ATL ($14,900): Lowry has stepped up his offensive game over the latter half of November, as he's eclipsed 20 points in four of the last five contests, leading to three tallies of 50 fantasy points or more. That span includes a pair of double-doubles and an average of 1.29 fantasy points per minute overall. The Hawks check in allowing the fifth most fantasy points (50.3) per game to point guards, along with the third most points (24.7), fourth most made three-pointers (2.6) and fourth highest shooting percentage (43.0). Lowry also thrived against Dennis Schroder and the Hawks last season, averaging 22.0 points (on 60.0 percent shooting, including 69.2 percent from three-point range), 7.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds across two games.
T.J. McConnell, PHI vs. ORL ($7,400): McConnell will draw the start Saturday in place of Ben Simmons (elbow), making him one of the night's top value plays at a price that doesn't reflect the minutes he should see. The Magic have allowed the seventh most fantasy points (49.9) to point guards on the season, including 52.0 per game over the last five. McConnell is coming off a 28.75 fantasy-point effort versus the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, and he's scored between 21.50 and 36.75 fantasy points in six other contests while coming off the bench. His ability to stuff the stat sheet and solid upside makes him both a viable cash and GPP play in an appealing matchup.
FORWARD/CENTER
Anthony Davis, NO at GS ($19,900): Davis lit up the Warriors last season for 35.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals across three games, and he should be in prime position for similar production Saturday. Golden State has allowed the eighth most fantasy points (44.6) and fifth most points (21.9) per game to power forwards, along with a 48.0 percent success rate from the field. Davis has flashed a ceiling well north of 50 fantasy points with regularity and averages 1.38 fantasy points per minute, making him an especially appealing play in what should be competitive contest where he should see more minutes and possessions that usual.
Blake Griffin, LAC at SAC ($14,900): Griffin is very reasonably priced for a player that's scored over 40 fantasy points twice and over 50 on two other occasions over the last six contests. He's coming off a season-best 57.00 fantasy points against the Hawks on Wednesday, a tally he generated on the strength of a 26-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. Saturday, he draws a matchup against a Kings squad that's allowed the third most fantasy points (47.1), second most points (22.8), second most rebounds (13.3) and most made three-pointers (2.6) per game to power forwards. Griffin's team-high 31.7 percent usage rate is a testament to how heavily the entire Clippers' offense revolves around him, making him an excellent cash or GPP play.
Jayson Tatum, BOS at IND ($11,400): For those needing to save some serious cash, Wesley Johnson ($7,700) makes for an appealing option versus the Kings as well, but Tatum has a prime matchup in his own right. The Pacers have allowed the most fantasy points (51.2) to power forwards over the last 10 contests and have bottom-five figures in points (22.4), rebounds (12.3), made three-pointers (2.0) and shooting percentage (51.0) to the position on the season. Tatum saw a modest 22 minutes in Friday's double-digit win over the Magic, but he'd scored between 31.25 and 37.75 fantasy points in his three previous games while seeing a more typical allotment of playing time.
UTILITY
Joel Embiid, PHI vs. ORL ($17,200): Embiid boasts a jaw-dropping 41.2 percent usage rate and averages 1.59 fantasy points per minute with Ben Simmons off the floor this season, and the latter will miss Saturday's contest with an elbow injury. The Magic have allowed the fifth highest shooting percentage (57.0) to centers on the season, while Embiid has averaged 28.4 points (on 54.9 percent shooting), 12.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.6 blocks over his last five games. Given what his usage should be Saturday, he becomes close to a must-play if you're going to spend up at forward/center.
Nikola Vucevic, ORL at PHI ($12,300): That said, Vucevic may come close to matching Embiid basket for basket Saturday, considering the Sixers have allowed the second most fantasy points (42.5) to centers on the season. Vucevic has been particularly aggressive on the offensive end, posting a team-high 23.8 percent usage rate and career highs in both three-point attempts (4.4) per game and three-point success rate (40.5 percent). That's helped lead to an average of 35.23 fantasy points per contest, a figure partly comprised of five games with more than 40 fantasy points and one over 60.
